Malkovich gets Hex'd

Josh Brolin is preparing to slap some leather and saddle up as notorious bounty hunter JONAH HEX, based on DC Comics' long-running series. And his gnarly visage will be facing the simmering lunacy of one John Malkovich.

The hard-working thesp will play Turnbull, "a wealthy Southern plantation owner whose son is killed by Union soldiers during the Civil War." Believing Hex is responsible for his son's death, he puts the scar-faced gunslinger in his sights.

The project, set to begin filming in March, is directed by Jimmy Hayward, a guy with a strong animation background that includes Pixar experience and HORTON HEARS A WHO. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (CRANK) originally started the whole shootin' match and penned the script before having a showdown with Brolin and Warner Bros.

Extra Tidbit:

Hayward apparently got the directing gig by slipping an email to Brolin and convincing him to meet about the project.